Hydrangea in a pot
Hydrangeas, thanks to their spherical, elegant inflorescences, are a wonderful decoration of garden beds. But these shrubs can be successfully grown in pots on balconies, terraces or in patio gardens. What kind of care does a hydrangea need in a pot to make it bloom the same as the one growing in the bed? Here’s everything you need to know about growing hydrangeas in a pot!
What hydrangeas you can grow in a pot?
In principle, any garden hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is suitable for growing in a pot, although undoubtedly, it is best to choose varieties with limited growth, such as the variety ‘Sibyl’, sometimes also sold under the name ‘Masja’.
This small variety of hydrangea grows not higher than 1 m in height. It has nice, fleshy, glossy leaves. From June to August it has beautiful large, spherical inflorescences (15-30 cm in diameter), dark pink to purple in color. You can buy such hydrangeas in garden stores.
You can notice that flower shops often sell greenhouse hydrangeas. Those plants have the ability to flower during winter months.
However, you should be aware that in the case of greenhouse hydrangeas, growers focus on obtaining plants with limited growth, nice habit and beautiful flowering, but not necessarily frost-resistant and doing well in our climate.
Growing such varieties all year round in an apartment can be troublesome, and if the plants are to find their place on balconies and terraces, it is better to choose “ordinary” garden hydrangeas for growing in a pot.
What pot can you plant hydrangea?
Large green hydrangea leaves and their colorful inflorescences fit almost all types of containers and pots, both stone, ceramic, wooden and galvanized sheet metal. They look interesting in a pot made of an old barrel, an aluminum bucket or in a wicker basket. It is your preference what type of material and shape the pot is made of.
For practical reasons, each hydrangea pot should have holes in the bottom through which excess water will flow out after watering, and should be large enough. The minimum pot capacity for young hydrangea seedlings is 10 liters, while older, large plants may require a pot with a capacity of up to 100 liters. You should transplant hydrangea when it is overgrown it’s current pot.
Rules for growing hydrangea in a pot
The hydrangea in a pot has similar soil requirements as plants growing in garden beds. The ideal position is semi-shaded. In the shade, hydrangeas grow better and it is easier to provide them with the right amount of moisture in the soil, but in the sun they bloom more abundantly, so you have to somehow balance it.
The soil should be fertile, humus, slightly moist and acidic. A mixture of compost soil and peat will work perfectly in the pot. You can also fill it with ready-made soil for azaleas and rhododendrons or soil for acidophilic plants.
During teh period of growth and flowering you must water hydrangeas regularly as they don’t tolerate over drying. Remember that especially on sunny days.
Once a week, you should water with a solution of liquid fertilizer, or once a month, use granulated hydrangea fertilizer.
Remember, that potted hydrangeas are very sensitive to over-fertilization. Therefore the doses of fertilizers should be lower than in the case of hydrangeas grown in the ground.
If the fertilizer manufacturer does not specify the dosage for pot hydrangeas. Use only 1/3 of the dosage stated on the fertilizer packaging.
If you bought a potted hydrangea in the winter or early spring, until the risk of frost is over, the plant must be kept inside your house. Let’s choose a bright place for it, but not too much sun. If it is to stand on a window sill, it must be a window facing east, northeast or northwest.
In no circumstances it should be the southern exposure. The hydrangea will get too much sunshine. Inevitably it will get too warm and the leaves will start to wither quickly.
The ideal temperature for hydrangeas in an apartment is 20 ° C, at night it is good to lower the temperature by 2 – 4 ° C.
In most cases plant will be after bloom before it can wander outside. Then the blown inflorescences should be cut together with the first pair of leaves located just below the first pair of leaves under the inflorescence. The hydrangea pruning sites should fall approximately half a centimeter above the next pair of leaves on the plant. You can put a hydrangea in a pot outside in the 3rd decade of May.
Wintering hydrangeas in a pot
For the winter period, the hydrangea grown in a pot requires appropriate protection. Plants form flower buds in the summer and from them will develop flowers next year. If they freeze in winter, there will be no flowers the next year.
If you are not sure whether the variety of hydrangea you have is sufficiently frost-resistant do this: In the fall, before the first frosts come, slightly dry the plant, remove leaves and move it to a frost-protected room, e.g. a shed, garage or basement. The room does not have to be bright, as the hydrangea does not need sunlight during this period.
You can also spray hydrangea with fungicide during winter rest. It will prevent plant from beimng attacked by gray mold.
You should also remember that during winter storage, that the soil in the pot does not dry out completely. From time to time, the water plant to maintain a minimum level of moisture.
If you decide to leave the plant on the balcony or terrace, you should insulate the pot with polystyrene. Then you should wrap entire bush with thick, white winter nonwoven fabric. On warm days, you can remove cover to check the condition of the plant and for watering.
When winter is over and days are warmer you can remove cover. However you must remember to put cover back for night time in early time. This will protect hydrangea against unexpected frost.
Hydrangea in a pot – transplanting
Very often, people ask how to transplant hydrangeas in pots. You should transplant hydrangea into bigger pot when it is too big for a current one. You must transplant younger plants every year. Older bushes can be transplanted less often.
The signal to replant the hydrangea is when you will see roots growing through drainage holes of the pot.
If the potted hydrangea is hibernated in the garden, replant it in the spring. Hydrangeas hibernating in cool rooms and greenhouses can be transplanted in February.
Replant hydrangeas to pots only slightly larger than those in which they have grown so far. Remember to put small pebbles or expanded clay as drainage at the bottomn of the pot.
When transplanting potted hydrangeas, replace all soil with a new substrate. It is best if it is fertile and humus acidic soil. Soil for rhododendrons and special substrates for hydrangeas are perfect. You can also mix ordinary garden soil with acid peat.
